One Card Wild

ABSTRACT

This invention permits an alternative use of a wild card in casino games using a standard deck of fifty-two playing cards in which a set number of cards are dealt to a participant of the game. In existing games in which a wild card is used, the cards which may be used as a wild card are limited because they are predetermined and static. This invention allows each player in the game to choose any card in the player&#39;s hand to be used as a wild card, thereby permitting each hand to always have a wild card if the player so chooses.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable.

FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable.

SEQUENCE LISTING, TABLE, COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING

Not Applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention would be associated with cards games played with a standard deck of fifty-two cards, or a standard deck of fifty-two cards plus one or two Joker cards. In the area of casino gaming, this invention would most commonly be associated with the card game of Poker, including any of the numerous variations of Poker-type games currently played in casinos. Outside of casino gaming, this invention could be associated with any card game where there is a specified value ranking for various card combinations, thereby allowing one player's hand to beat other players' hands.

Games involving the basic principles of Poker have been played for centuries, mostly in Europe. The game became popular in America, especially in the Western Frontier, during the nineteenth century. However, the Poker games played in America evolved into versions distinct to the United States.

One variety of Poker, commonly referred to as ‘Stud Poker’, includes such games as Five-Card Stud and Seven-Card Stud (Six-Card Stud and Eight-Card Stud are also valid games, but are seldom, if ever, played). Players who wish to participate place a small wager (ante) on the table in order to enter the game.

In Five-Card Stud, each player receives one card face down (hole card) and a second card face up, then a third card face up, a fourth card face up, and a final card face up. After the first two cards have been dealt, wagers are made by each player who wishes to continue in the game, and wagers continue to be made after each successive card is dealt. Players may throw in (fold) their hand at any point, thereby forfeiting any wagers they have made up to that point. Once the players remaining in the game have received their fifth card and made their final bets, the players' hole cards are revealed, and the highest Poker hand wins the money wagered.

Several versions of Seven-Card Stud are played. In one version, each player receives two cards face down, then four cards face up, then one final card face down. Another version is played with two cards dealt face down, three cards dealt face up, and two final cards face down. In both of the above Seven-Card versions, after the first three cards have been dealt (two face down and one face up), wagers are made by each player who wishes to continue in the game, and wagers continue to be made after each successive card is dealt. Players may throw in (fold) their hand at any point, thereby forfeiting any wagers they have made up to that point. Once the players remaining in the game have received their seventh card and made their final bets, the players' hole cards are revealed, and the highest Poker hand that can be made from any five of the seven cards in the player's hand wins the money wagered.

Because of the total number of cards in a deck, the above version of Seven-Card Stud was limited to a maximum of seven players. In part to offset this limitation, a form of Stud Poker called “Hold 'Em” evolved. In this version, each player receives two cards face down, after which a round of betting takes place. The next three cards, known as ‘communal’ or ‘community’ cards, are then dealt face up in front of the dealer, and are used by all players as part of their hand. The final two cards are dealt face down to each player.

A specific version of “Hold 'Em”, called “Texas Hold 'Em”, evolved using the same procedures as “Hold 'Em”, except that the final two cards are also displayed in front of the dealer, thereby giving five communal cards.

Another general version of the game of Poker is called Draw Poker. In this form of play, each player is dealt five cards face down. After looking at the cards, a player has the option of discarding some of the cards and receiving (drawing) replacement cards from the dealer. Different rules, usually agreed upon by the players before the game begins, may limit the number of cards that could be drawn by a player.

These Poker games are played today throughout the United States and in many parts of the world. Currently, games can be found in homes, local poker parlors, on the Internet, and in casinos. At present, Harrah's Entertainment holds the rights to the World Series of Poker tournament, an annual event in which players from around the world compete in various local contests to earn a seat in the finals. Millions of dollars in prize money are awarded in the World Series of Poker events.

Other versions of Poker have become popular in casinos throughout the world. Many casinos offer Poker rooms dedicated exclusively to dealing Stud and Draw Poker games. There are also dozens of video Poker games based on a fifty-two card deck (or a fifty-two card deck plus one or two Jokers) and the standard rules of Poker.

The rapid growth in both the number and size of casinos over the past couple of decades has also encouraged the creation of numerous table games based on the fundamental rules of Poker. These games use anywhere from two to five cards to create a Poker ‘hand’. This hand may win a payoff based solely on its own merits, or it may be played against a dealer (or house) hand, and must be of a higher Poker rank than the dealer's hand in order to receive a payoff.

A ‘Wild Card’ (in any card game) is a card that may be substituted for any other card in the deck. Wild cards tend to add a measure of excitement to a game since they may allow a hand that might otherwise be worthless to become a hand of some value. A wild card is designated either by the rules of the particular game being played, or by common consent of the players prior to the beginning of play. The majority of Poker games played do not involve wild cards.

A Joker (sometimes two) comes with a standard fifty-two card deck, and if a wild card is to be used in the game being played, it (they) becomes the natural card(s) to use. However, at some point, card players felt the need to increase the number of available wild cards. The lowest valued cards in the deck, Deuces (2s), also came to be used as wild cards in some games. [Another variation, usually played by children, was a game where ‘Deuces and One-Eyed Jacks’ were considered wild (the Jack of Spades and Jack of Hearts show only one eye on the card), thereby giving a total of six wild cards in the game. In some cases, the King of Diamonds—also showing only one eye—was added to the list.]

Many Video Poker games currently played in casinos include the use of wild cards. In these games, the cards considered to be wild are predetermined, and in all known cases are either the Deuces or Jokers, or in some cases both.

In many casinos today, two Poker table games are played using wild cards. In Deuces Wild Poker, a standard fifty-two card deck is used, and each of the four Deuces may be used as a wild card. And in Pai Gow Poker, one Joker is added to the standard fifty-two cards. The Joker may be used as a wild card, but limitations are placed on exactly when and where it may be played. Descriptions of these games are given below.

Probably the oldest of the Poker table games currently played in casinos is Pai Gow Poker. Regular Pai Gow Poker is played with a standard fifty-two card deck, plus one Joker. Seven cards are dealt face down to each player and to the dealer. Each player and the dealer split the seven cards into two hands; a five-card hand and a two-card hand. Each player's two hands are then compared, separately, against the dealer's two hands, and the higher of each hand wins.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,863,041 depicts the game of Pai Gow with the addition of a side bet. Players have the option of placing a ‘bonus’ bet, where a payoff amount is awarded if the player's five-card hand is equal to a rank shown on a predetermined payoff table.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,131,907 depicts a Poker table game commonly referred to as Deuces Wild Poker. In this game, each of the four deuces is considered to be a wild card. Each player places an initial wager to enter play, and players are dealt three cards face down. After looking at these three cards, a player may fold, thereby losing the initial wager, or a player may continue playing by placing a second wager equal to the initial wager. A player who has a Deuce or a pair will usually continue playing. If a player places the second wager, the player is dealt a fourth card. After looking at these four cards, a player may fold, thereby losing the initial wager and the second wager, or a player may continue playing by placing a third wager equal to two times the initial wager. If a player places the third wager, the player is dealt a fifth card, face down or face up at the casino's discretion. Each player's full hand is then revealed and payoff is made based on a predetermined payoff table. If the Poker value of a player's five-card hand is less than that listed on the payoff table, the player forfeits the three wagers on the table.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The current invention is one that allows each player to select any one card in the player's hand as a Wild Card. The player may use the selected Wild Card as if it were any other card in the standard fifty-two card deck of playing cards. Each player's selection of a wild card applies strictly to that player's hand, and has no bearing on, or relevance to, any other player's hand, or any other player's selection of a wild card.

DESCRIPTION OF INCLUDED DRAWINGS

The enclosed drawings demonstrate a player's discretion in choosing a card to be used as a Wild Card. The drawings use a Poker hand for illustration, but the concept could be applied to any card game using a standard fifty-two card deck of playing cards.

FIG. 1 shows the original five-card Poker hand dealt to the player.

FIG. 2 shows the player has selected (from the original hand dealt) the Five of Spades as the Wild Card, and assigned it the value of a Nine (of any suit), thereby creating a Ten-high (10-wc-8-7-6) Straight.

FIG. 3 shows the player has selected (from the original hand dealt) the Ten of Spades as the Wild Card, and assigned it the value of a Four (of any suit), thereby creating an Eight-high (8-7-6-5-wc) Straight.

FIG. 4 shows the player has selected (from the original hand dealt) the Six of Clubs as the Wild Card, and given it the value of a Nine of Spades, thereby creating a Spade Flush (10-wc-8-7-5). Player may pick any of these scenarios, or any other that the player wishes to use, according to the rules of the game being played. In the example cited in the enclosed drawings, player would usually pick the highest valued Poker hand available, which would be the Spade Flush (FIG. 4).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The preferred embodiment of the current invention is a casino video or table game in which players are dealt a hand of cards.

In the case of video games, players would be playing against a predetermined ranking of various card combinations, generally listed in a table on the machine. Once the machine has dealt the hand(s) to the player, player may choose any one of the cards in each hand dealt as a wild card to be substituted for any other card in the deck. This wild card may then be placed anywhere in the hand in order to enable the player to create a hand listed in the table of predetermined rankings, thereby possibly receiving a payoff on the hand.

In the case of table games, players and a dealer would each be dealt a hand of cards. Players may be playing either against the dealer, against each other, or against both the other players and the dealer. In each hand that has been dealt, player(s) and dealer may choose any one of the cards in the hand as a wild card to be substituted for any other card in the deck. This wild card may then be placed anywhere in the hand in order to enable the player or dealer to create the best-valued hand according to the rules of the game. 

1. A process of playing a casino table card game in which: a. each person participating in the game is dealt a hand of cards as determined by the rules of the particular game in play; b. each person, following the rules of the particular game in play, decides to play his or her hand in competition against the house and/or other players, rather than not to play the hand (fold); c. each person, in the cards held for play against the house and/or other players, and following the rules of the particular game in play, may, at each person's discretion, select any one card in the hand to be a wild card (that is, each person who wishes to play his or her hand of cards may change the value and suit of any one of the cards in the hand to any other value and suit of any card in the deck) for playing of the current hand only.
 2. A process of playing a video card game in which: a. the video card game displays a predetermined payoff table of payout amounts for various hands which qualify for receiving payoffs; b. a player playing the video game is dealt one or more hands of cards, as determined by the rules of the particular game in play, on the screen of the video game; c. the player, following the rules of the particular game in play, decides for each hand dealt whether or not to play the respective hand(s), rather than not to play the hand(s) (fold); d. the player, for each hand played, and following the rules of the particular game in play, may, in each hand being played, select any one card in the hand to be a wild card (that is, in each hand the player chooses to play, the player may change the value and suit of any one of the cards in the hand to any other value and suit of any card in the deck) for playing of the current hand only. 